Hearse with floor extension



Jul 9, 1935. w, Hm 2,007,425

HEARSE WITH FLOOR EXTENSION Filed Oct. 30, 1935 O 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1fNdes/vroe; F080 4/. Heme/w,-

July 9, 1935. w. HARR|$ 2,U@7,4 25

I HEARSE WITH FLOOR EXTENSION Filed Oct. 30, 1953 2 ShetsSheet 2 F".Z. 4a;

79. 673- [E 1 7 "F f',' I V 24 67 i W Z6 Z2 20 Patented July 9, 1935PATENT OFFICE 2.007.425 HEARSE WITH FLOOR EXTENSION Ford W. Harris, LosAngeles, Calif., assignor to Big Rock Ranch Company, Los Angeles,Calif., a corporation of California Application October 30, 1933, SerialNo. 695,880 13 Claims. (01. 296-16) My invention relates to side loadinghearses and itis embodied in a side loading means for a hearse whichenables a casket to be conveniently inserted through the side opening ofthe body of a hearse. I

In the old-fashioned hearses the casket is inserted thereinto through anopening formed in the back end of the body. It is ordinarilyimpossiblebecause of traffic regulations to park the hearse with theback toward the curbing of the street and consequently the pall-bearersare required to step down from the curbing into the. street in order toplace a casket into the hearse. [The inconvenience of stepping into thestreet and the disturbance of the solemn appearance of the ceremonyareeliminated in the modern side loading hearses which permit the casket tobe inserted through an opening formed in the side of ,thehearse. Thesemodern side loadinghearses have. the exterior appearance of a standardlimousine automobile.

It is rather inconvenient, and sometimes strenuous, for the frontpall-bearers to extend the foot of the casket through the side openingof the hearse and into the interior thereof. The reason for this is thatthe rurming'board of the hearse prevents the frbn'tpalhbearersfrom-standing very close to the side opening and consequently they mustlean forward or extend their arms forward so that the foot of the casketwill project through the side opening before the casket is rested on thefloor of the hearse.

It is an object of my invention to provide ahearse with a fioorextension which may be extended 5 outward from the body of the hearsebelow the side opening and which presents an upper surface at the samelevel with the upper surface of the floor of the hearse. The floorextension forms a platform or shelf on whichthe foot of the casket maybe rested by the front pall-bearers with convenience and without anystrenuous efiort.

Another object of my invention is to provide a combination of thecharacter mentioned in the paragraph above in which the floor of thehearse and the floor extension are provided with means for reducing thefriction between the casket and the floor of the hearse and casketguiding means operable to'guide the casket in anon-rectilinear path asit is slid over the floor of the hearse. A still further object of myinvention is to provide a combination as specified above in which thefloor extension projects outwardly from the body of the hearse a.distance substantially greater than the width of the running board ofthe hearse. It is a further object of my invention to provide a. hearsehaving a floor extension which may be retainedin a retracted position ina cavity below the floor of the hearse and which may be extendedoutwardly to one side of the body below the side opening and in the sameplane as the floor. 6

It is also an object of my invention to provide in a combination of thecharacter specified in the above paragraph: a floor extension which issupported in a cavity below the floor of the hearse, there being guidemeans upon which-the extension .10 is slidable into an extendedposition; means by which an operator can raise the extension into anupper position in which the extension presents an upper surface in thesame plane as the upper surface of the floor ofthe hearse; and means 15for clamping the extension in this extended upper position.

These and other objects will be apparent from a perusal of the followingpart of the specification and the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view of aside loading hearse embodying thefeatures of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through a portion of the floorof a hearse and the floor .25 extension of the invention, the floorextension being shown in its retracted position, this view being takenas indicated by the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view comparable to Fig. 2 but showing the floor extension inits extended upper ,30 position.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken as indicated by the line 4*4 of Fig.2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken as indicated by the line55 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings and to Fig. 1 in particular, the numeral llrepresents an automobile hearse having a body l2. The body [2 providesan interior compartment 13 having a floor It, the major axis of which isparallel to 0 the direction of travel of the hearse H and the minor axisof. which is at right angles to the major axis. One side of the body !2is provided with a side opening 1 5, which is usually narrower than thelength of the casket carried by the hearse, and for this reason thecasket must be longitudinally inserted through the side opening [5 andinto the compartment l3. The side opening 15 is provided with hingedside doors l6 normally closing this opening, giving the hearse ll thegeneral appearance of a limousine or sedan. As best shown in Figs. 2 to4, inclusive, the side I? of the body I2 is provided with a-cavity l8,directly below the side opening I 5, and which is elongated in thedirection of the major axis ill of the body, the upper and lower wallsof the cavity being defined respectively by the floor I4 and the uppersurface I9 of the frame 20 of the chassis of the hearse II.

Secured to the inner side of the frame 20 adjacent the longitudinalextremities of the cavity I8, as by bolts in the manner shown, is a pairof brackets 2| adapted to serve as supports for a floor extension 22,which is received through the side ll of the hearse through the cavityI8.

The brackets 2! include means for supporting the floor extension in alower position below the floor I4 of the hearse and means for guidingthe floor extension when it is drawn into a laterally extended position,in which position it projects outwardly beyond the floor I4 and beyondthe running board of the hearse.

The brackets 2! are preferably formed so as to project inwardly towardthe major axis of the body I2 a substantial distance as shown, and areprovided with horizontally extending surfaces 23, serving as ways uponwhich skids 24 secured to the bottom surface of the extension 22 areslidably supported. The skids 24 may be conveniently formed of angleiron, the horizontally extending legs 25 thereof being secured to thebottom surface of the extension 22 by screws, as shown, and thevertically extending legs 26 thereof resting slidably on the ways 23.

The guiding means above referred to is provided in the form of aplurality of vertically extending fingers 28 formed integrally with thebrackets 2I and adapted for slidable engagement with the inner surfacesof the legs 26 of the skids 24, as best shown in Fig. 5. Stop means inthe form of inwardly extending ears 30 are provided on the inner ends ofthe skids 24, these ears being adapted to engage the innermost guidefingers 28, in the manner best shown in Fig. 3, to limit the outwardmovement of the floor extension 22.

The inner end of the floor extension 22 is pro vided with an offsetportion providing a vertical shoulder 36 extending entirely across theupper surface of the floor extension at right angles to the direction inwhich the extension is sli'dable. It will be noted that the offsetportion "35 is offset downwardly a distance substantially equal to thethickness of the floor I4. It will also be noted that the length of theoffset portion with relation to the stop ears 30 is such that when theextension 22 is fully extended, the shoulder 38 is in a position toclear the outer edge 31 of the floor I4 when the extension 22 is raisedvertically,

My invention also provides means for raising the floor extension fromits extended lower position in which it is supported by the skids 24engaging the ways 23, into an extended upper position in which the uppersurface 38 of the offset portion 35 is clamped against the lower surfaceof the floor I4, so that the upper surface 39 of the extension 22 is inthe same plane as the upper surface of the fi'oor I4 and is locked inthis position.

One form of providing this means includes a horizontal shaft 45rotatably mounted in bearings 46 provided in the brackets 2i. As shown,the shaft extends transversely with respect to the Ways 23 upon whichthe extension is slidable and in a plane therebelo-w. Fixedly mounted onthe shaft 45, directly below the horizontal leg 25 'of each of theskids, is a clamping member ll. Each of the clamping members 41 includesan outwardly extending arm 48 terminating in an enlarged head providinga cam surface 48 adapted to engage the leg 25 of the skid 24 thereaboveupon a rotational movement of the shaft 45 and lift the extension 22into its extended upper position, locking the extension in this positionby clamping the upper surface 38 of the offset portion against the lowersurface of the floor I4 as described above.

It will be noted that the cam surfaces 49 provide arcuate surfaces 50and flat surfaces 5I tangential thereto and perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the arms 48. When the floor extension 22 is in itslower retracted position the arm 48 of the clamping member 41 rests in anonvertical position against the frame I8 of the car, or other suitablestop means, so that the cam surfaces 49 are out of contact with thefloor extension as shown in Fig. 2, allowing the floor extension to befreely slidable on the ways 23. When the clamping members 41 are swungleftwardly, as viewed in Fig. 2, by a rotation of the shaft 45, thearcuate surfaces 49 engage the legs 25 of the skids 24 camming theextension 22 upwardly into its extended upper position, the

guide fingers 28 and the stops 30 cooperating to prevent any lateraltwist of the extension so that the shoulder 36 will clear the outer edge31 of the floor I4 as the extension is raised.

It will be noted in Fig. 3 that when the arm 48 of the clamping member41 is in a vertical position, a vertical force is exerted against thefloor extension through the flat perpendicular surface 5|, which, due tothe relatively enlarged area of this surface, tends to preventinadvertent rotation of the clamping members 47 from their verticalposition, thus securely locking the floor extension 22 in its extendedupper position.

One suitable means for rotating the shaft 45 to accomplish the functionof raising the extension from its extended lower position into itsextended upper position comprises a lever 55 fixedly mounted on one endof the shaft 45, the handle portion thereof projecting upwardly throughan opening 56 provided in the floor I4. The lever 55 is preferablymounted on that end of the shaft 45 toward the forward end of thechassis of the hearse, so that the handle portion thereof projectsthrough the floor I4 forwardly of the side opening I5 and adjacent thedrivers seat, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Other operating means for rotating the shaft 45 may, of course, be usedif desired, the lever being merely illustrative of one simple form ofoperating means. So also, the clamping members 41 constitute only one ofseveral equivalent means for raising the extension from its lower to itsupper position, and it should be understood that the invention shouldnot be limited to the construction shown.

My invention also includes means for reducing the friction between acasket and the floor of the hearse as the casket is slid over the doorby providing roller means 60 and GI projecting slightly above the uppersurfaces of the floor I4 and the floor extension 22 respectively. Theroller means 60 and BI are supported in suitable frames 62 preferablyset flush with the upper surface of the floor I4.

I The roller means 60 and 8| comprise a means for guiding the casket ina non-rectilinear path as it is slid over the floor. I4 into thecompartment I3. The function of the rollers 68 and BI as a guiding meansis to support a casket in such a manner that when the casket is slidendwise through the side opening I5, the rollers will autoradiatefrom apoint indicated at 65 which is located substantially at 45 to the majoraxis at the rear and to one side of the compartment l3.

When the foot of a casket is rested on the extension 22 it is supportedby the rollers 6 I. When the casket is slid inwardly the foot extendsthrough the side opening l5 and engages the rollers 60. The action ofthe rollers 60 is to shift the foot of the casket toward the rear end ofthe compartment l3. Aseach succeeding roller 6|) is engaged by the footof the casket the direction of travel of the casket is changed, so thatwhen the head of the casket rests on the rollers 60 adjacent the sideopening l5, the casket is nearly parallel with the major axis of thecompartment and requires little manual effort to shift the head of thecasket inwardlyso that it is parallel to the major axis. The floor, 14and, if desired, the floor extension 22 may be equipped with ballrollers 63 to assist in reducing the friction between the casket and thefloor;

In the operation of my invention the floor extension 22 is, of course,normally carried in its retracted position below the floor I4, in whichposition it is shown in Fig.. 2, the outer edge thereof being preferablyflush with the side of the hearse so as to be inconspicuous, the hearsepresenting the general appearance of an ordinary limousine. When acasket is to be placed in the hearse, the floor extension is manuallydrawn outward into its fully extended position, limited by the stops 30,and then the operating lever is utilized in the'manner above describedto raise the extension into its extended upper position and lock it inthat position. The extension22,

projecting outwardly beyond the running board of the hearse, allows thepall-bearers at the foot of r the casket to stand clear of the runningboard while placing the casketin the hearse.

, Although I have shown and described only one complete embodiment of myinvention, it should be understood that I amaware of various changesthat might be made, and numerous embodiments thereof that might bedevised which would nevertheless come'within the true scopeof myinvention interpreted by the appended claims.

- I claim as my invention:

1. In a side-loading hearse, the combination of: a body having a doorwayin the side thereof;

a floor within said body adapted to support a,

casket by presenting an upper surface upon which the casket may besupported and over which the casket may be slid; an extension adapted tosup-v port a portion of said casket projecting beyond said floor andadjacent to said doorway by presenting an upper surface in the sameplane as said floor and continuous therewith; guide means adapted toguide said extension to a-position below said floor by providingsupports by which said extension is supported in a lower position suchthat it can pass into a cavity below said floor; and locking meansadapted to lock said extension in its extended position with the uppersurface of said extensionin the same planeas the upper surface of saidfloor and continuous therewith, said function being performed by raisingsaid extension from said lower positionto an upper position and lookingit in said upper position.

.,2.In side-loading hearse, the combination of a body having a doorwayin the side thereof; a floor within said body adapted to support acasket by presenting an uppersurface upon which the casketmay besupported and over which the casket may be slid; an extension adapted tosupport a portion of said 'casketprojecting beyond said floor andadjacent to said doorway by presenting anupper surface in thesarneplanev as said floor and continuous therewith; guide means adaptedto guidesaid extension to a position below said floor by providingsupports by which said extension: is supported in a lower position suchthat it can pass'into a cavity below said floor; a clamping memberadapted to lock said extension in its extended position with the uppersurface of said extension in the same plane as the upper surface of saidfloor and continuous therewith by forcing saidextension from said lowerposition into said upper position; and means by which an operator canlock said extension in said extended upper position by actuating saidclamping member. i

3. In a side-loading hearse, the combination of: a'body having a doorwayin the side thereof; a floor within said body adapted to support acasket by presenting an upper surface upon which the casket may besupported and over which the casket may be slid; an extension adapted tosupport a portionof said casket projecting beyond said floor andadjacent to said doorway by presenting an upper surface in the sameplane as said floor and continuous therewith; guide means adapted toguide said extension to a position below said floor by providingsupports by vwhich said'extension is supported in a lower position suchthat it can pass into a cavity belowsaid floor; means for reducing thefriction between said casket and said floor as said casket is slid oversaid floor by providing roller means between said floor and continuoustherewith and said casket; and locking means adapted to lock'saidextension in its extendedposition with the upper surface of saidextension in the same plane as the upper surface of said floor, saidfunction being performed by raising said extension from said lowerposition to an'upper position and locking it in said upper position.

4. In a side-loading hearse, the combination of: a body having a doorwayin the side thereof; a fioorwithin said body adapted to support a casketby presenting an upper surface upon which the casket may be supportedand over which the casket may be slid; an extension adapted to support aby providing roller means between said floor and said casket; a clampingmember adapted to lock said extension in its extended position with theupper surface of said extension in the same plane as the-upper surfaceof said floor and continuous therewith by forcing said extension fromsaid lower position into said upper position, and means by which anoperator can lock said extension in said extended upper position byactuating said clamping member.

5. In a side-loading hearse, the combination of a body having 'adoorwayin the'side thereof a floor within said body adapted to supportacasket by presenting anupper surface upon whichthe casket may besupported and over which the casket may be slid; an extension adapted tosupport a portion of said casket projecting beyond said floor andadjacent to said doorway by presenting an upper surface in the sameplane as said floor and continuous therewith; guide means adapted toguide said extension to a position below said floor by providingsupports by which said extension is supported in a lower position suchthat it can pass into a cavity below said floor; means for causing saidcasket to move over a non-rectilinear path as it is slid over said floorby providing suitable casket guiding means in said floor; and lockingmeans adapted to lock said extension in its extended position with theupper surface of said extension in the same plane as the upper surfaceof said floor and continuous therewith, said function being performed byraising said extension from said lower position to an upper position andlooking it in said upper positioh.

6. In a side-loading hearse, the combination of: a body having a doorwayin the side thereof; a floor within said body adapted to support acasket by presenting an upper surface upon which the casket may besupported and over which the casket maybe slid; an extension adapted tosupport a portion of said casket projecting beyond said floor andadjacent to said doorway by presenting an upper surface in the sameplane as said floor and continuous therewith; guide means adapted toguide said extension to a position below said floor by providingsupports by which said extension is supported in a lower position suchthat it can pass into a cavity below said floor; means for causing saidcasket to move over a non-rectilinear path as it is slid over said floorby providing suitable casket guiding means in said floor; a clampingmember adapted to lock said extension in its extended position with theupper surface of said extension in the same plane as the upper surfaceof said floor and continuous therewith by forcing said extension fromsaid lower position into said upper position; and means by which anoperator can lock said extension in said extended upper position byactuating said clamping member.

7. In a side loading hearse, the combination of: a body having a doorwayin the side thereof; a floor extension adapted to support a portion of acasket projecting beyond the floor and adjacent said doorway of thehearse by providing an upper surface on said extension in the same planeas the upper surface of said floor and continuous therewith; and meansby which an operator can secure said extension in its extended positionby clamping said extension so that it cannot move with relation to saidfloor.

8. In a side-loading hearse, the combination of: a body having a doorwayin the side thereof; a floor in said body adapted to support a casket bypresenting an upper surface upon which the casket may be supported andover which the casket may be moved; an extension adapted to be retractednormally in a cavity located beneath said floor and movable to anextended position in which it extends beyond the side of said bodyadjacent to said doorway; a transverse bar positioned beneath saidcavity; elevating means associated with said bar and adapted to raisesaid extension when said extension is in said extended position to araised position in which the upper surface of said extension is in thesame plane as said upper surface of said floor and continuous therewith;and actuating niems for actuating said bar so as to cause said elevatingmeans to raise said extension to said raised position and to lock saidextension in said raised position.

9. In a side-loading hearse, the combination of: a body having a doorwayin the side thereof a floor in said body adapted to support a casket bypresenting an upper surface upon which the casket may be supported andover which the casket may be moved; an extension adapted to be retractednormally in a cavity located beneath said fioor and movable to anextended position in which it extends beyond the side of said bodyadjacent to said doorway; a transverse bar positioned beneath saidcavity; elevating means associated with said bar and adapted to raisesaid extension when said extension is in said extended position to araised position in which the upper surface of said extension is in thesame plane as said upper surface of said floor and continuous therewith,said elevating means being normally out of contact with said extension;and actuating means for actuating said bar so as to cause said elevatingmeans to engage and to raise said extension to said raised position andto lock said extension in said raised position.

10. In a side-loading hearse, the combination of: a body having adoorway in the side thereof; a floor in said body adapted to support acasket by presenting an upper surface upon which the casket may besupported and over which the casket may be moved; an extension adaptedto be retracted normally in a cavity located beneath said floor andmovable to an extended position in which it extends beyond the side ofsaid body adjacent to said doorway; a transverse bar positioned beneathsaid cavity; elevating means associated with said bar and adapted toraise said extension when said extension is in said extended position toa raised position in which the upper surface of said extension is in thesame plane as said upper surface of said floor and continuous therewith;and

actuating means for actuating said bar so as to cause said elevatingmeans to raise said extension to said raised position and to lock saidextension in said raised position, said actuating means being operablefrom a point above said floor.

11. In a side-loading hearse, the combination of: a body having adoorway in the side thereof; a floor in said body adapted to support acasket by presenting an upper surface upon which the casket may besupported and over which the casket may be moved; an extension adaptedto be retracted normally in a cavity located beneath said floor andmovable to an extended position in which it extends beyond the side ofsaid body adjacent to said doorway; a transverse bar positioned beneathsaid cavity; cam means associated with said bar and adapted to raisesaid extension when said extension is in said extended position to araised position in which the upper surface of said extension is in thesame plane as said upper surface of said floor and continuous therewith;and actuating means for actuating said bar so as to cause said cam meansto raise said extension to said raised position and to lock saidextension in said raised position.

12. In a side-loading hearse, the combination of: a body having adoorway in the side thereof; a floor in said body adapted to support acasket by presenting an upper surface upon which the basket may besupported and over which the casket may be moved; an extension adaptedto .be retracted normally beneath said floor and movable to an extendedposition in which it extends beyond the side of said body adjacent tosaid doorway; and elevating means within said body and operative thereinto raise said extension when in extended position to a raised positionin which the upper surface of said extension is in the same plane assaid upper surface of said floor and continuous therewith.

13. In a side-loading hearse, the combination of: a body having adoorway in the'side thereof; a floor in said body adapted to support acasket by presenting an upper surface upon which the casket may besupported and over which the casket may be moved; an extension adaptedto be retracted. normally beneath said floor and movable to an extendedposition in which it extends beyond the side of said body adjacent tosaid doorway; and elevating means within said body and operative thereinto raise said extension when in extended position to a raised positionin whichthe upper surface of said extension is in the same plane as saidupper surface of said floor and continuous therewith, said elevatingmeans being adapted to lock said extension in said raised position.

FORD W. HARRIS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,007,425. July 9, 1935.

FORD W. HARRIS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: lage 3,second column, line 38, claim 3, strike out the words "and continuoustherewith" and insert the same after "floor" in line 42, of said claim;and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correctiontherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent ()ifice.

Signed and sealed this 27th day oi August, A. l). 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

